Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
The Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the U-M Medical School offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program for undergraduates interested in physiology or biomedical sciences research.
For More Information
Program Overview
Eligible applicants must be undergraduate students at the University of Michigan and currently working with a MIP faculty member. Students should contact their faculty mentor in MIP if they are interested in this program.
Fellows work full-time for twelve weeks from May 26 to August 14, 2026, with a stipend of $7,200 (pre-tax). The start/end dates may be shifted slightly to accommodate overlap with academic schedules, if necessary. The program includes a required 2-day Summer Symposium for presenting research, and opportunities to attend research seminars throughout the summer.
How to Apply
Eligible SURF Candidates
- Are full-time college students
- Have completed at least two terms
- Have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or better
- Pay for housing during their fellowship from their stipend. Several opportunities for summer housing exist, with subletting off-campus being the most reasonable and cost-effective.
- Devote 12 consecutive weeks to full-time (40 hours/week) laboratory research ( excluding July 4). The faculty member and the student must agree upon vacation days, and any missed hours must be made up before the end of summer.
- Attend a Summer Symposium at the end of the program to report their research findings.
- Any student currently working in the lab of a MIP faculty member and enrolled in a degree granting program at the University of Michigan
Preference will be given to students with strong academic performance in science courses and relevant laboratory experience.
Application Process
- Contact the MIP faculty member in whose lab you are working and indicate your interest in the SURF program.
Awardees
- Student awardees will be responsible for paying for housing during their fellowship from their stipend. Several opportunities for summer housing exist but most students will find subletting off campus housing as the most reasonable and cost effective. The average cost of summer housing was factored into the stipend amount for this award.
- Students are expected to work 40 hours per week in the laboratory during the 12 week fellowship period excluding July 4. If any vacation days are requested, they must be agreed upon by the faculty member and the student, and the hours must be made up by the student before the end of the summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
This fellowship program is aimed at giving research opportunities to undergraduates to encourage them along a career path in biomedical science. If you are a senior or are planning on graduating in the spring of 2025, you must indicate very specifically on the application how a summer research fellowship will benefit your career path, and specifically outline your immediate plans after the fellowship is completed. If you do not, it will be assumed your career plans are already set and your application will not receive high priority.
This fellowship program is aimed at giving research opportunities to undergraduates to encourage them along a career path in biomedical science. If you are a masters student and currently funded by a fellowship, traineeship, or paid for teaching, you are not eligible. Because this is a full time position, you cannot take any classes during the fellowship program. If you still would like to apply, you must specifically defend why a summer fellowship would benefit your career path.
No, you are not eligible.
Yes, you are eligible to apply.
No, the fellowship assumes you will be working at least 40 hours a week for the entire fellowship period.
The fellowship assumes you will work at least 40 hours per week for the entire fellowship period of 12 weeks (480 hours). Some flexibility might be allowed if you make prior arrangements with your mentor to make up for the time absent. You must attend the research symposium at the end of the summer.
No. However, it is usually quite easy to find a reasonable summer sublet in Ann Arbor as many students leave Ann Arbor for spring/summer semesters and summer break.
If you currently have or are able to obtain a visa that makes you eligible to be employed at the University of Michigan (typically a J-1 visa with approval to work at University of Michigan), then you are eligible to apply. The fellowship program does not provide administrative assistance in obtaining visas, nor do we provide for visa costs, travel costs, or housing costs. Therefore, please consider these costs before applying. More information about visas and eligibility for employment can be found here. Documents proving your visa status will be required for you to be able to accept the award and for you to be employed at the University, if you are ultimately chosen for a fellowship position.
No, you are not eligible.
Faculty Mentors
Program Leadership
Xin Tong
Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Medical School
